March 7, 2008
Lafayette's senior class comes from different backgrounds, yet has formed a bond that sets the tone for the program. The Leopards are enjoying success on the court as a result.
"We're really different guys from different places. We cover the whole U.S. and then overseas," said captain Matt Betley. "We have different roles but we have all come together as seniors. We've been through it before and all of us share a role in leading the team."
Their styles of leadership and personalities vary as much as their geography, as four states and one European country are represented.
Betley, an Economics & Business major from Mount Laurel, N.J., serves as the voice of the Leopards.
"Any senior serves as a vocal leader to an underclassman, but Matt does such a good job of keeping these guys in check," Ted Detmer said.
While Betley is the most vocal, Paul Cummins prefers to work behind the scenes. A Psychology and Music double major from Kildare, Ireland, the guard sees himself as a confidence builder, often playing the role of the big brother off the court, and "an offensive spark" on the court.
Guard Bilal Abdullah hails from Anchorage, Alaska and acts as the jack of all trades. He etched his name into the Lafayette record book in 2008 when he scored his 1,000th point. Abdullah is often matched up with the opponent's top scorer.
Detmer comes to Lafayette from Scarsdale, N.Y. Described by his teammates as "the funny one," the Government & Law major's efforts don't always show up in the box score.
"Ted is an unsung hero," Lafayette Head Coach Fran O'Hanlon said. "He does all the dirty work for us. He may have the best understanding of what we do."
Everest Schmidt, a 6-7, 270-pound forward from Orleans, Calif., has brought a post presence to the hardwood for the Leopards.
The senior leadership began to take hold on the team's May trip to Italy where Lafayette recorded four wins and emerged with a fresh perspective on the game.
"We knew we had to change," Betley said. "Last year we were in last place, so obviously what we were doing wasn't working. We knew we had to put a lot more time and effort into it."
"I think the Italy trip was huge as far as how our team gelled in the beginning of the season," Cummins said. "It allowed us time to find our identity."
The team parlayed its 4-0 Italian swing into a preseason that set the tone for 2007-08. Lafayette was picked to finish last in the preseason poll, but seniors guided Lafayette past its 2006-07 win total just one week into League play.
"The Patriot League is a league where senior-dominated teams are the ones that find success," Detmer said. "It's nice that after such a long time we've found a class that buys into each other and what Coach O'Hanlon teaches everyday in practice."
"We know what it takes to win now," Abdullah said. "We're finally learning when it's time to take the tough shots and when to come up with the big defensive stops and how to close out plays better."
|
|
 |
